Sunday, 3 February 2013

Mending

Lately I've been wanting to sew, but I have little energy for crawling around and cutting things out. So I finally decided to tackle my pile of stuff to mend. Some of it is years old (and has moved house with me, twice).

First up, this purple coat. Started it about 3 1/2 years ago.

You know what it's needed that whole time? A button and a button hole. SUCH hard work, no wonder I put it off for so long.

As soon as I had finished said button and button hole, I discovered two other button holes I have apparently added some time in the past. Why are they there? And why all the way off to the side? Was I planning to mummify myself in this coat?

Here is what it looks like buttoned up with the side button holes. Looks much the same to me, maybe a bit more fitted but otherwise unremarkable.

I remember making this coat with the idea that it would be loose and rough looking so I don't know why the button holes are all the way over to the side. Anyway, in order to achieve the rough look, the pieces are all sewed by overlapping them onto each other, instead of using regular seams. The fabric is un-hemmed but I did hem the lining.

The lining is pure silk... just a small indulgence (I think I found it on sale)

There is no belt with the pattern but I made one for this particular coat.

Next we have this attractive baggy dress

Hot, huh?

It's tagged as Topshop but I'm thinking this might have been an experimental design that hopefully never actually hit the dress racks. I found it in an opshop.

I find it kind of ugly, yet for some reason I like it

I chopped about 4 inches off the length, and took the side seams in by about an inch each

Much better.

This snakeskin dress has been wanting a zip for about a year. Again, it's clear why I left this strenuous and demanding task for so long.

I actually don't know what pattern this is, but I have a feeling it's a mix of 2 patterns... top from one, skirt from another

Unfortunately there wasn't enough of the purple to make a stole or a wrap, but I think I can use it for a small bag or purse of some kind.

Another opshop find. This little yellow thing is not quite a top, not quite a dress. What the heck-a-roony is it Mrs Glick?? (And who am I quoting?)

It's waaaay too short to wear out in public as a dress, and as a top it's too long to go with any of my skirts. Maybe with jeans, but my stomach still says No to jeans.

So it got chopped too.

As you can see I'm now quite in love with it.

As I am with my little tulle skirt, which is becoming a new favourite item as well.

Oh, gratuitousness where would I be without you?

All these photos were taken in my little sewing corner... my sewing machine and various bits and pieces can be seen behind me.

As a side note, I haven't forgotten about my monthly calendar cakes... baking is about as appealing as sewing right now, so the cakes ARE coming!! They'll just be slightly delayed. (The fact that I have zero tolerance for cake right now is also putting me off).

20 comments:

Purple is my favourite colour, so I love love the coat!! I am hopeless at buttonholes so it is highly unlikely I would ever make two!! The "Top shop" dress is heaps better chopped and so it the yellow top. Its amazing what a pair of scissors can do to an item of clothing to improve. Cakes sound good!

Hello darlin'!! My you have been a busy bee, the purple coat has to be the most spectacular coat I've ever seen!! Who knows what we're thinking when we sew huh? A couple of extra buttonholes? Meh!! We might want to hang something off them;). I think the collar sits beautifully in the one-button pic - I could just kick myself sometimes for all my sewing procrastination. xoxo

Wow - the purple coat is FAAAABULARSE!!! All of your projects are gorgeous - and I know I've said it before but I'm saying it again - you got some SMOKING HOT proportions going on! The purple sparkly number is MEOOOOW! Sarah xxx

What marvelous, stylish, completely lovely pieces! I adore that purple coat and love it all the more knowing that you lined it with silk. I can imagine there there must be something so elegant, alluring and feminine about having silk against your skin whenever you slip on a piece of outerwear like this.

How clever are you! What a lovely coat and I especially like the pink version .. Andy loves it too by the way and was very impressed when I said you made it. I meant to say I love your tall ship tattoo, I love, love, love tall ships xxx

Welcome to my world...

Hello. I am a Melbourne girl and I love sewing. My latest creations are documented here. There is a fair chance I will also rant about vintage clothes, my cat, anything to do with the 20's - 60's, books, old books, flowers, shoes, films, old films, trashy magazines and shopping. My favourite colour is purple and I will wear red hats later in life.